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11/18/2020 11:00 PMBranford Public Schools (BPS) continues to see a rise in COVID-19 positive cases with six new identified cases in the school community reported by the district between Nov. 16 and Nov. 18, bringing the total reported among district schools to 22 since buildings opened with the hybrid learning model in September.
The increase comes as the town continues to be locked in "red" critical status tied to a rise in community-wide COVID-19 positive cases. The town's critical status has been in place since Friday, Nov. 13 as determined by the in the CT Dept. of Public Health (see related story).
On Mon. Nov. 16, BPS switched to fully remote learning for second graders at one of the town's three elementary schools, Murphy Elementary, due to staffing shortages; and reported two new cases identified among individuals from the school district (see related story).
On Wed. Nov. 18, Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez issued a notice regarding the latest positive COVID-19 cases reported in the school community, stating, in part, "We continue to experience an increase in reported COVID (+) cases. The District was notified that four more members of the school community, two at Walsh Intermediate School, one at Mary T. Murphy School and one at John B. Sliney School, have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of COVID (+) cases to 22 since school reopened. The affected persons were last in school on November 9, 2020, November 13, 2020, November 10, 2020 and November 11, 2020 respectively. Each has been instructed to remain on home isolation for 10 days. Anyone who would be considered a 'close contact' of these people has already been contacted by school officials and/or public health officials and provided with instructions on the appropriate steps to take.